MEPs approved stricter rules on Wednesday (17 January) to control how European companies export technologies including software that could be used for surveillance, and any products that may violate human rights.

Hungary's data protection watchdog on Monday (7 August) lashed out at government plans to centralise personal data and ease rules on allowing official access, calling them a major threat to citizens' rights.

Germany’s ruling coalition is to adopt a new intelligence law today (21 October). Concerns have been raised about the increase in the amount of surveillance that will be permitted by the new legislation. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Companies that lobbied to water down new EU rules that will make it harder to export some technology products are worried the MEP in charge of the controversial bill will be “anti-trade” and double down on the European Commission's controversial plans.

German industries have urged caution when the European Commission presents its free flow of data initiative next month, warning that excessive open data requirements risk exposing trade secrets and chilling investments in the digital economy.

EU companies are about to get hit with a controversial new export control law hampered by a wave of criticism this summer from technology firms, which contend that it will destroy their business abroad.

Jean-Claude Juncker intervened today (20 September) to postpone a controversial trade bill that would have made it more difficult for EU countries to export surveillance software, marking the second time this month that the Commission chief pulled the brakes on a high-profile technology file.

France has arrested 101 people since the start of the year over "direct links to terrorism", Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in an interview to be published later today (13 May), exactly six months after the Paris attacks.

Employees in Europe should think carefully about using the Internet to send private messages at work. Europe’s top rights court ruled Tuesday (12 January) that companies could monitor workers’ online communications.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday (12 January) rapped Hungary over its anti-terror surveillance legislation, saying a 2011 law could be used against "virtually anyone", trampling Hungarians' right to privacy.

Britain unveiled plans on Wednesday (4 November) for sweeping new surveillance powers, including the right to find out which websites people visit, measures which critics denounce as an assault on freedoms.

Data protection officials are assuming increasing prominence following Tuesday's (6 October) ECJ decision to outlaw Safe Harbour, which called them to take on a bigger role in Europe's privacy debacles.

The European Parliament gave the green light on Tuesday (8 September) to a non-binding resolution calling for safeguards to ensure technology isn't implicated in human rights abuse, especially when it's exported outside of Europe for surveillance or censorship purposes. A European Commission proposal is expected next year.